Evelyn Windsor walked into the main house, looking lost. Elder Landon was very satisfied to see the love and deep loss in her eyes, and with a smile, he beckoned her over: "Chloe, come here quickly, let Grandpa Landon take a look at you. Have you become even more beautiful over the years?"
Evelyn Windsor forced herself to pull together and walked over, reluctantly calling out: "Grandpa Landon."
The old man curled his lips, his face full of an inscrutable smile: "Chloe, Durrell had a car accident, and the culprit hasn't been found yet. It's only natural that he's not in a good mood, so try not to take it too much to heart."
She forced a slight curve onto her lips.
"Grandpa Landon, I'm not angry with him, I'm just mad at myself."
She couldn't help but wonder whether leaving without a word back then was right or wrong.
The old man cleared his throat, dropping a hint: "I heard that in your circle, it's not uncommon for feelings to develop because of acting together?"
Evelyn Windsor immediately understood.
If they could work on the same film, they would have plenty of time to spend together.
By then, she would be able to explain properly.
Thinking of this, the gloom and worry in her eyes faded quite a bit.
Noon.
Zeke Landon returned to the old house, worried that Durrell might have an argument with Grandpa, he rushed back right after his meeting, only to find that Durrell wasn't there at all, only Evelyn Windsor talking and joking with the old man.
Seeing this scene before him, Zeke Landon's expression darkened a bit.
His Grandpa had deceived him, hadn't he said they'd just simply ask about Durrell's injuries? Why did Evelyn Windsor have to come over?
Even though he was displeased, he did not show it at all, only stepping forward to call out: "Grandpa..."
The old man, upon seeing Zeke, appeared to be in a very good mood, with a faint smile on his lips:
"Zeke, you came at the right time, I recall Skylane Estate sent an invitation to a banquet, didn't they?"
Zeke Landon slightly frowned, but still nodded.
"Yes."
As his words fell, the old man cleared his throat: "Then let Durrell go."
After saying this, he cast a meaningful glance at Evelyn Windsor.
Evelyn Windsor understood the old man's implication; the Windsor Estate had also received an invitation from Skylane Estate.
If Durrell and she appeared at Skylane Estate's banquet at the same time, it would be a long-lost reunion scene that made her heart race just thinking about it.
Zeke Landon's deep eyes roved between the old man and Evelyn Windsor, his obsidian eyes swirling like a vortex, but his expression remained unchanged, responding simply with: "Alright."
He then gracefully turned away and left.
The old man did not stop him.
...
Durrell Landon returned to Imperial View Manor, only to find that Quiana Sutton was still nowhere to be seen within the manor, and the servants had no idea where she had gone.
Everyone envied the splendor and extraordinary nature of Imperial View Manor, but to him, it was nothing more than a beautiful golden cage trapping him.
Previously, he didn't feel much, but now, hearing that Quiana Sutton wasn't around, he surprisingly felt a bit cold and lonely.
For the first time, he instructed a servant to bring him a few bottles of wine.
...
In the evening, Quiana Sutton returned to Imperial View Manor, and the butler hurried up to her.
"Miss Sutton, thank goodness you're finally back."
During this period she resided at Imperial View Manor, and the butler treated her with utmost respect, so she paused to ask softly: "Is something the matter?"
The butler looked at Quiana Sutton as if she were a savior.
He could see clearly that within this manor, apart from Young Master Windsor, this young lady was the only one who could talk sense into the master.
"The master has locked himself in his room drinking all afternoon, Miss Sutton, please try to persuade him."
Upon hearing this, Quiana Sutton furrowed her brows slightly: "Doesn't he usually hate the smell of alcohol?"
The butler was also quite puzzled, but he knew the master's mood always soured after visiting the old house.
"Miss Sutton, today the master went back to the old house, and his relationship with Elder isn't that good..."
The butler didn't finish the sentence because the matters between Elder and the master were none of his business.
Everyone harbors some untouchable secrets, and she wasn't too interested in those secrets either; since the butler didn't continue to speak, she didn't pry further.
She just replied: "I can try to persuade him, but I can't guarantee the effect."
The butler looked at her with tears of gratitude.
Arriving outside his room, recently she had been sleeping in the guest room; although the sofa in his room was comfortable, his presence was too intense, often causing insomnia, and she didn't want to face dark circles every day affecting her appearance.
She knocked on the room door a few times, but there was no response from inside.
She hesitated for a moment and then just pushed the door open.
The room's window was open, and instead of being filled with a strong scent of alcohol, there was a faint fragrance in the air.
From her angle, she could see Durrell Landon holding a glass of wine, tilting his head back to bring the wine to his lips, with a few drops trickling down from the corner of his mouth, following the curve directly into his chest, it was quite alluring at first glance.
She never knew someone could drink in such a heart-stopping way.
Durrell Landon noticed someone standing at the door, he turned slightly, saw Quiana Sutton, and unconsciously curved his lips into a smile.
"Are you here to check on me?"
She walked a few steps closer, hugging her arms and leaning casually against a wall, looking indifferent:
"You've been drinking all afternoon, the butler is really worried about you."
"And you? Are you worried?"
She fell into silence, not answering his question, her heart was also full of contradictions, sometimes her rationality and emotions would engage in extreme tug-of-war, although most of the time, rationality prevailed.
Her silence was the best answer.
Durrell Landon was momentarily annoyed, reached out and pulled her into his arms, forcing her face against his warm chest.
"Don't move, I won't do anything, just let me hold you for a moment."
Quiana Sutton pushed a little, feeling the powerful and scorching warmth of his body, she surprisingly couldn't push away for a moment.
He seemed both drunk and very sober.
To say he was sober was because he was just as familiar with acting shamelessly as ever.
To say he was drunk was because his face seemed to always be covered by a misted glass, hard to see clearly, revealing only a casual yet slightly distant look, but at this moment, for the first time, she saw a crack in that glass, through which his most genuine inner emotions leaked out.
His loneliness, unease, and vulnerability.
She wasn't someone who liked meddling in others' affairs, but at this moment, she still spoke up:
"In this world, no one will ever rescue you; only you can save yourself."
Durrell Landon pulled her tighter, locking her firmly in his embrace as if wanting to merge her completely into himself.
"What if I insist on being stubborn?"
"Then you'll simply fall into a bottomless abyss."
In this world, all causes and effects can only be resolved by oneself.